Distinguished Alumni

Sam Anderson

Mr. Sam Anderson, a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, received the Bachelor of Arts from Tennessee Technological University and the Master of Education in Administration and Supervision from LMU. After spending 12 years as an economics and geography teacher in the Knox County Schools, he was named director of parks and recreation in 1987. His awards include Man of the Year in 1993, Tennessee High School Football Coach of the Year three years, Tennessee High School Coach of the Year four years, Southeastern United States High School Coach of the Year in 1986, Teacher of the Year in 1984, and he is a graduate of the Leadership Knoxville Class of 1989.

Mr. Anderson has been an active citizen, serving as an elected member and chairman of the Knox County School Board, the Board of Directors of Leadership Knoxville, the Board of Directors for the Knox Area Junior Golf Association, Knoxville Zoological Park Board of Directors, Ijams Nature Center Board of Directors, a member of the National Recreation and Parks Association and a member of the National Forum of Black Public Administrators.

During his work as director of parks and recreation, he has had a tremendous impact on the lives of children and adults in the City of Knoxville. In one of his letters of recommendation for induction into the LMU Professional Hall of Fame one of his associates said, “He has helped provide services to tens of thousands while exercising his management abilities and most agreeable leadership style.”